Kabir Cares

At last night’s meeting, the College Park City Council has decided to move forward with forming a new Route 1 Corridor Coalition with the Town of University Park, the Town of Riverdale Park and the City of Hyattsville. The coalition will give these four neighboring municipalities a regular forum to discuss common concerns, coordinate priorities and advocate together on issues affecting communities along the Route 1 corridor.

Although the coalition will initially consist of College Park, University Park, Riverdale Park and Hyattsville, other Route 1 municipalities may be invited to attend meetings as guests when discussions involve issues affecting their communities. These could include North Brentwood, Brentwood, Mount Rainier and other nearby jurisdictions. This flexible approach will allow the coalition to remain focused while involving additional municipal partners when their participation would be helpful.

The meetings will generally follow the format of the existing Four Cities Coalition, which brings together College Park, Berwyn Heights, Greenbelt and New Carrollton. That longstanding partnership gives elected officials and staff a regular opportunity to exchange information, identify shared concerns, learn from one another and coordinate advocacy before County and State officials.

Potential topics for the Route 1 Corridor Coalition include economic development and redevelopment, pedestrian and bicycle safety, traffic congestion, signal timing, public transportation, parking, beautification, snow removal, public safety and coordination with the Maryland State Highway Administration. Because Route 1 is a State-maintained roadway running through several municipalities, our communities often face similar challenges that cannot be addressed effectively by one city acting alone.

Working together will allow the participating municipalities to speak with a stronger and more unified voice when seeking infrastructure improvements, policy changes or financial support from Prince George’s County, the State of Maryland and other agencies. The coalition can also help the communities share successful programs and coordinate responses to development or transportation proposals affecting the entire corridor.

City staff will now begin coordinating with University Park, Riverdale Park and Hyattsville to establish the coalition’s meeting schedule, operating format and initial priorities. The Council looks forward to building this partnership and strengthening cooperation among the communities that share the Route 1 corridor.

Quantum physics may sound like something straight out of a Marvel movie, but its real-world possibilities are even more fascinating.

On Thursday, September 24, residents are invited to Science on Tap: “Quantum Possibilities: What the Weirdest Physics Can Build” at Ledo Pizza in College Park.

University of Maryland Physics Professor Steve Rolston will take attendees into the strange and surprising world of quantum physics, explaining how some of its unusual principles could help shape future technologies and discoveries.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the talk begins at 6:30 p.m.

The event is free to attend, and the City of College Park will provide free pizza and soft drinks for attendees. Additional food and beverages will also be available for purchase.

Registration is required. Sign up here:
https://science.umd.edu/events/scienceontap-2026-09.html

Science on Tap is a great opportunity to hear directly from a University of Maryland expert, enjoy some pizza, and learn how cutting-edge science happening in and around College Park could influence the future.

Ready to clean out your home, garage, or yard? The City of College Park will hold two Fall Cleanup Saturdays at the Public Works facility:

• Saturday, October 10, 2026
• Saturday, October 24, 2026
• 7:30 a.m.–noon

City residents may drop off bulky trash, appliances, electronics, brush, yard trim, and other accepted materials. Small quantities of household batteries and fluorescent bulbs will also be accepted. Tires may be dropped off for $4 each.

Document shredding will be offered on October 10 only, from 8 a.m.–noon. Please bring proof of City residency.

Hazardous materials, concrete, bricks, rocks, propane tanks, and car batteries will not be accepted. Bulk trash brought to these cleanup events will not count toward residents’ regular bulk-trash limits.

For additional details, visit College Park Fall Cleanup Saturdays.

Tuesday, September 15, is National Voter Registration Day—a great reminder to check your voter registration status and make sure you are ready for the next election.

Voting is one of the most important ways to make your voice heard and participate in decisions that affect College Park and our broader community. Even if you have registered before, it is a good idea to confirm that your name, address, and other information are current.

You can also help by sharing voter registration information with friends, family members, neighbors, and newly eligible voters.

To register or check your status, visit the Maryland Online Voter Registration System. It only takes a few minutes to make sure your voice will count.

Today marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks, a day that changed our country forever.

Here in College Park, we join communities across the nation in remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost, honoring the courage of first responders and everyday heroes, and recognizing the countless families and communities that were forever changed.

To mark this important anniversary, the City of College Park is hosting September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World, a 14-panel exhibition developed by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The exhibit uses archival photographs, personal stories, and images of artifacts to help visitors reflect on what happened that day, the recovery efforts that followed, and the lasting impact of 9/11.

The exhibit is on display in the City Hall lobby, 7401 Baltimore Avenue, through October 5. Residents can visit Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As another tribute, the Council Chambers windows facing City Hall Plaza will be illuminated in Memorial Blue throughout the rest of September.

Twenty-five years later, we continue to remember those we lost and the extraordinary acts of courage, service, and compassion that followed.

We will never forget. ❤️🤍💙

Families, history lovers, and aviation enthusiasts are invited to College Park Aviation Museum Community Day tomorrow, Saturday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free, all-ages event will take place at the College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, and is part of Prince George’s County’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. 

Community Day offers a great opportunity to explore one of College Park’s most historic treasures while enjoying special programs for children and adults. According to M-NCPPC, tomorrow’s activities include:

• 11 a.m. – Rosie Revere aviation story and craft
• 12:30–2 p.m. – Maryland State Police helicopter fly-in, weather permitting
• 1 p.m. – Lakeland book reading, followed by an opportunity to try Ozobot robotic coding
• 11 a.m.–4 p.m. – “Reclaiming Our Space: The Story of Lakeland,” highlighting the history and legacy of College Park’s historic Lakeland community
• 11 a.m.–4 p.m. – Community Collections Wall, where visitors can experience what it is like to be a museum curator
• Free ice cream for the first 200 visitors age 17 and younger. 

Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and spend some time discovering the history in our own backyard. Community Day is also part of M-NCPPC’s PastPort to History program. Visitors can have their PastPort stamped as they explore participating museums and historic sites throughout Prince George’s County during America’s 250th anniversary year. Admission to M-NCPPC historic sites participating in the program is free throughout 2026. 

A Special Piece of College Park History

The setting itself makes this event particularly special. The museum overlooks College Park Airport, the world’s oldest continuously operating airport. The airport dates to 1909, when Wilbur Wright came to College Park to train U.S. Army officers to fly the government’s first airplane. Flight instruction began here on October 8, 1909, and the site went on to become associated with numerous aviation milestones, earning College Park the nickname “Field of Firsts.” 

The museum preserves that remarkable history through historic and reproduction aircraft, exhibits, artifacts, and hands-on activities. It also tells broader stories connected to aviation and our community, including the contributions of women in aviation, the history of Lakeland, and the Columbia Air Center—the nation’s first licensed Black-owned and operated airport. 

Tomorrow’s Community Day is a wonderful chance to introduce children to aviation, learn more about College Park’s history, and see a Maryland State Police helicopter up close if weather permits.

College Park Aviation Community Day
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive
Admission: FREE | All ages welcome

See the official Community Day information⁠

Residents of North College Park are invited to tonight’s North College Park Community Association (NCPCA) meeting, where one of the main topics will be recent concerns about raccoons in our neighborhoods.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, September 10, at Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue, with an option to participate by Zoom. A presentation and community discussion on College Park raccoon incidents is scheduled for approximately 8:05 p.m.

The discussion is particularly timely because College Park has experienced several concerning raccoon incidents in recent years, including multiple confirmed cases of rabies.

A History of Rabid Raccoons in College Park

In the spring of 2024, North College Park experienced several confirmed cases within a relatively short period. A raccoon found near the 5200 block of Iroquois Street on April 11 tested positive for rabies. Later that month, another raccoon captured near the 9500 block of 50th Place also tested positive. 

Then, in May 2024, residents in the Hollywood West neighborhood reported a raccoon exhibiting unusual behavior at several locations. College Park Animal Control eventually recovered the animal on the 9600 block of 49th Avenue, and the Maryland Department of Health confirmed that it was rabid. 

Another case followed that June in College Park Woods, where a raccoon picked up from the 3600 block of De Pauw Place was found with multiple wounds and appeared ill. It subsequently tested positive for rabies. 

More recently, on August 11, 2026, College Park Animal Control responded to the 4900 block of Iroquois Street after receiving a report of a raccoon showing signs of illness. The animal was safely captured and sent to Prince George’s County for testing. At the time of the City’s public alert, rabies had not been confirmed. 

Another case was reported recently on 53rd Avenue near the Hollywoodcommunity Park involving a resident and a dog .

What Residents Should Know

Seeing a raccoon during the daytime does not automatically mean that it has rabies. The University of Maryland Extension notes that although raccoons are primarily nocturnal, they can sometimes be active during daylight hours. More concerning signs include unusual lethargy, extreme aggression, difficulty walking or other uncoordinated behavior. 

Maryland health officials advise residents not to approach, touch or feed wild animals, to keep pets’ rabies vaccinations current, and to secure garbage and avoid leaving pet food outside. Anyone bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal should wash the wound thoroughly, seek prompt medical attention and report the exposure to animal control or the local health department. 

The City’s Animal Control program handles wildlife concerns and encourages residents to report animal and wildlife issues rather than attempting to capture an animal themselves. 

Join Tonight’s Discussion

Tonight’s NCPCA meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to hear more about the recent incidents, ask questions, and discuss what residents and local authorities can do to reduce risks involving raccoons and other wildlife.

NCPCA Meeting
Thursday, September 10 | 7:30 p.m.
Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue
Raccoon Presentation & Discussion: approximately 8:05 p.m.

Residents can also participate through Zoom using the meeting link provided by NCPCA:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87681702172?pwd=oOW0s58k2j7aBpaQdgSsn9d8qolY9C.1

Other agenda items include officer reports, a recap of NCPCA’s 2025–2026 activities and discussion of future goals, along with community announcements and unscheduled motions.

September is Hunger Action Month, a time to raise awareness about food insecurity and support neighbors who may be struggling to put nutritious food on the table.

Here in College Park, the College Park Community Food Bank continues to play an important role in helping local families and individuals. With grocery prices remaining high, household budgets stretched, and some families losing SNAP benefits, the need for assistance continues to grow. Each week, the Food Bank now fulfills more than 300 requests for food.

The College Park Community Food Bank works to reduce hunger by providing healthy food to anyone in need, including fresh produce and nutritious nonperishable items. People seek assistance for many different reasons and circumstances, and the Food Bank strives to welcome and serve everyone with dignity.

Community support makes this work possible. Individual donors provide approximately 44 percent of the Food Bank’s funding. During this year’s Hunger Action Month campaign, the Food Bank hopes to raise $9,000 to help continue serving our neighbors.

Residents who would like to help can make an online donation through the Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month campaign:

Donate online:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=RG4KNPAJBBN2J

Checks may also be mailed to:

College Park Community Food Bank
3621 Campus Drive
College Park, MD 20740

Every contribution, large or small, can help provide nutritious food to a neighbor in need. September is a great opportunity to show what the word “Community” in College Park Community Food Bank truly means.

Thank you to everyone who supports the Food Bank and helps fight hunger in our community.

Residents and trail users should be aware that a temporary closure along a popular section of the Northeast Branch Trail begins today, Tuesday, September 8.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) will close the Northeast Branch Trail between Lake Artemesia and the College Park Aviation Museum from September 8 through Thursday, September 10 to complete critical repairs.

This section of the trail is frequently used by walkers, runners, bicyclists, commuters, and families traveling between Lake Artemesia, College Park, and surrounding communities.

Detour signs will be posted to help trail users navigate around the closed section. Those looking for alternative routes can also visit pgparks.com/trail-finder to identify nearby trails and sidewalks.

If you normally use this section of the trail, please plan for an alternate route and allow some extra travel time over the next few days.

The trail is expected to reopen after the repair work is completed on Thursday, September 10.

Thank you for your patience while M-NCPPC completes these necessary repairs and works to keep our trail network safe and accessible.

As we mark Labor Day today, Monday, September 7, I hope everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the holiday, spend time with family and friends, and recognize the contributions of workers who help keep our community and our country moving forward every day.

Please note that all City of College Park offices will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The holiday will also affect refuse and recycling collection schedules this week. Collections will take place one day later than usual:

● Monday collections will occur on Tuesday, September 8

● Tuesday collections will occur on Wednesday, September 9

● Wednesday collections will occur on Thursday, September 10

Special collections will only take place on Friday, September 11, during the holiday week. Residents who need a special pickup should call 240-487-3590 or email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov to schedule it before placing items at the curb.

Please plan accordingly and help spread the word to your neighbors.

Wishing everyone in College Park a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable Labor Day!